Contents of the ADQ.DOC file

If you thought that DOS Quiz was hard, just give Advanced DOS Quiz (ADQ) atry! If you thought that DOS Quiz was easy, then try out the questions in ADQand see your 100% score turn into a 50% score!

Like DOS Quiz, ADQ is quick and easy way to use. It can be used to testanyone on their knowledge of very advanced DOS commands. ADQ is completelytaken on a DOS computer, and is completely self-contained. It takes the userthrough a series of 20 questions, asking the user to perform unusual, difficult,or arcane tasks in DOS. Unlike DOS Quiz, all 20 questions in ADQ arecategorized as Advanced.

At the end of ADQ, a score screen is displayed, which shows a listing ofall of the questions asked, what the main concept of each question was, andwhether the user answered the question correctly or not. The number andpercentage correct of the all questions asked is also displayed. The user isgiven the chance to save a scoresheet to a file or to a printer.

ADQ is probably too advanced to be use as a test in an office environment,though if a position requires a high degree of DOS skill, this may be just theticket. Otherwise, ADQ should be used as a test of your total DOS knowledge,and as a tutor for some of DOS's more obscure commands. As with DOS Quiz, ADQsupports many different syntactical uses of each command and may teach you newways of doing old things.

However, it does not cover all switches of all commands. There are, afterall, only 20 questions. So if a particular command piques your interest, seeyour DOS manual or on-line help (DOS 5.0 and above) for more on that command.

RUNNING ADVANCED DOS QUIZ

Running ADQ is really quite simple - all you need to do is type ADQ at theDOS prompt and away you go. The program is completely self-contained, so nooutside files are needed. The program is small, so it will run on nearly anyDOS machine.

As with DOS Quiz, ADQ works with either a color or monochrome monitor.ADQ will try to use color first and will jump down to monochrome if color isnot available. Monochrome monitors that emulate color monitors (such as b/w VGA) will work fine in color mode. The use of color in the program has been kept to a minimum to allow usage on a wide range of computers. If ADQ does not choose the monochrome mode and you wish to force it into monochrome mode,or you do not care for ADQ's color scheme, type "adq /m" at the DOS prompt.Note that on color systems, /m will only work if your video adapter canemulate monocrome (for example, most CGA cards cannot).

Note: As of Version 1.1, ADQ detects if you are using EGA 43-line mode orVGA 50-line mode before starting up. Though DOSQUIZ uses 25-line mode, the line mode you started ADQ in will be reset when you leave.

After typing in ADQ, an intro screen will appear. After pressing any keyas requested, the user will be prompted for his or her name and Social SecurityNumber. This is for score-sheet identification purposes. The user is asked toverify his or her entry. An instruction screen will then appear. After readingthe instructions and pressing any key, the quiz begins.

After finishing 20 questions, the score screen will appear. Three function keys are active here. F1 will print a scoresheet out on a parallelprinter in port LPT1. F2 will prompt you for a filename to save a score-sheet to (with the user's input name as the default filename). If the filenamegiven exists, you will be given a chance to change your choice. F3 quits thescore screen and the user will be asked if the quiz is to be taken again. Thisis a Yes or No question. If Yes, the screen will go back to the Name/SSN screen. If No, then ADQ will return control to DOS.

If you press F1 and the printer is not ready to print for some reason, ADQwill alert you to the problem and ask you to try again. Note that on many systems, if the printer is attached properly but turned off, no error will bedetected.

If you do not know the answer to a question, you can either guess or just press ENTER to skip answering. ADQ will mark the question as being incorrectlyanswered and move on.

ADVANCED DOS QUIZ QUESTIONS

The following is a listing of all questions asked in ADQ, and their correctresponses. Note that though the "correct" answers are all presented here inuppercase, all variations of upper and lower case are valid, as in DOS. Notealso that though they are not listed as valid responses, spaces are not requiredbefore switches. For example, CHKDSK/V is the same as CHKDSK /V. No spaces arerequired, either, when redirection is used, though not all of these responsesare listed. The following two commands are the same: DEBUGDEBUG < TEST.SCR. ADQ recognizes all such combinations.

1. Transfer system files to a diskette

The user will be asked to type a command that will transfer the system filesfrom the current hard disk to the diskette in drive A. Though not mentioned inthe Quiz, these files are the hidden files IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM. This command is usually used to create a bootable diskette aftera diskette has been formatted. As of DOS Version 5.0, the system files do nothave to be contiguous files and they do not have to be at the front of the diskette physically. Previous versions, however, do have these requirements.This may require you to delete files from the diskette before SYS will workproperly. The valid answers are:

SYS A: SYS C: A: SYS \ A: SYS C:\ A:

2. Use CHKDSK to show all files on drive, plus memory

The user will be asked to type the command that will show all files on thecurrent drive, report disk usage, and report memory usage. CHKDSK is anextremely useful command for checking the integrity of their hard drives anddiskettes. For many pre-DOS 5.0 users, it is also the only way to find out how much memory is available. The valid responses are:

If a \ is given as part of any command, the CHKDSK command will print "File notfound" at the end of the listing - ADQ will, too.

3. Use ECHO to dial a phone number with a modem

The user will be told to assume that there is a modem installed as COM1. Theuser will be told to use the ECHO command and the Hayes-compatible AT command-set to dial the number 555-1212. This method of communicating with your modemis a quick and easy way to create an autodialer. Placed in a batch file withbranches for different command line input, the number of phone numbers you could autodial with commands such as this are almost unlimited. The valid answers are:

In addition, the ATDP command may be used in place of ATDT, for use with pulse-dialing. Also, a dash (-) may be placed in between the 555 and the 1212.

4. Delete all two-character files with wildcards

The user will be placed in the C:\QUIZ directory and be asked to use a DOScommand and wildcards to delete all files that have a two-letter filename. Thisis probably one of the easier questions in ADQ. Understanding DOS's use of wildcards is required learning if you want to become a DOS poweruser. Theselittle charracters can do in one command what could take literally hundredsof commands typed in on the command line. Valid responses are:

DEL ?? DEL .\?? DEL ..\QUIZ\?? DEL \QUIZ\??

In addition, the ERASE command may replace the DEL command. Also, the directory and/or file specification may be preceded by C:.

5. Use LABEL or VOL to show volume label

The user will be asked to type the command that will allow them to see thevolume label of the current drive (C). The user is warned not to use the DIRcommand to accomplish this task. That would be too easy. The user is also toldnot to try to change the volume label. Valid responses are:

LABEL LABEL C: VOL VOL C:

The difference between the LABEL command and the VOL command is that the LABELcommand automatically asks you for a new volume label, whereas VOL merely showsyou the volume label. By passing LABEL a new volume label, the label is changedwithout prompting. As ADQ uses DOS 5.0 responses, it will show the volumeserial number as well. This will not happen on all versions of DOS.

6. Use COPY to combine two files into one

The user will be asked to join the files FILE1.DOC and FILE2.DOC into one file,entitled FILE3.DOC, using the COPY command. The user is advised that the filesare all in or to be in the current directory, C:\QUIZ, and is warned not to useany pathnames in the command. The reason that pathnames are not used here isbecause of the overwhelming number of possible valid responses to check for whenpathnames are permitted. For ADQ's purposes, the following is the validresponse:

COPY FILE1.DOC+FILE2.DOC FILE3.DOC

Note that ADQ will allow a space on either or both sides of the + sign. Also,since it does not explicitly state which file's contents are to be first in thedestination file, placing FILE2.DOC before FILE1.DOC in the above answer is alsocorrect.

7. Create a COM file with DEBUG and redirection

The user will be told to type in the command that will redirect the contents ofthe file TEST.SCR in the C:\QUIZ directory to the DEBUG command. The user iswarned not to use the TYPE command. Knowing how to use this command is very useful if you read a lot of computer magazines that provide free programs inthe form of DEBUG scripts. Some very useful utilities come from those pages.Valid responses are:

Using redirection, the following command would be valid: TYPE TEST.DOC | FIND "DOS QUIZ"As with question 7, however, this question is not a test of the use of TYPE.The filename/pathname portion of the command may be preceded by C:.

9. Show files in a directory with DIR and wildcards

Another relatively simple command, the user is asked to show all files in thecurrent directory, C:\QUIZ, that have the letter D as the first letter of theirfilename and extension. The user is warned not to use a pathname, for thereason stated in question 6. The following are valid responses:

DIR D*.D* DIR D???????.D* DIR D*.D?? DIR D???????.D??

The entire filename portion of the command may be preceded by C:.

10. Make a file read-only

The user is asked to make the file TEST.DOC in the current directory, C:\QUIZ, aread-only file. Use this command to protect a file from unwanted modificationor deletion. Although any user with much DOS savvy knows how to use this command and could remove the read-only flag, this will prevent most casual DOSusers at bay. Valid answers are:

The +R may also be placed after the filename. The filename may be preceded by the drive specification C:.

11. Set the baud rate of a COM port

The user is told to set the baud rate of COM1 to 9600. This is just one ofmany different ways to use the MODE command. It would probably be well worthyour while to learn all of MODE's options. You may be surprised at what itcan do. The following are valid responses:

The user is asked to type in the command that will copy all files in the currentdirectory, C:\QUIZ, with a .DOC extension to the diskette in drive A, but onlythose files that have their archive bit set. At the same time, the archive bitis to be reset if the file is copied successfully. This command is useful forperforming incremental backups or as part of a complete backup batch file.Once a file has been backed up, its archive bit is reset, telling XCOPY to skip over the file the next time it hits it. The next time the file is alteredin any way, the archive bit is set, and it will be caught by XCOPY the next time. The following responses are valid:

The /M switch may be located either after the XCOPY, the *.DOC, or the A:section of the response and still be considered valid. The *.DOC section of the command may be preceded by C:.

13. Sort a file

The user is asked to sort the file FILE1.DOC, placing the sorted data in thefile FILE2.DOC, both of which are in the current directory, C:\QUIZ. The useris warned not to use the TYPE command. The following are valid:

SORT < FILE1.DOC > FILE2.DOC SORT > FILE2.DOC < FILE1.DOC

Using the TYPE command, the following would be valid: TYPE FILE1.DOC | SORT > FILE2.DOCHowever, as stated in previous questions, this is not a test of the usage of theTYPE command.

14. Print out a file to the default printer

The user is asked to the COPY command to send the file TEST.DOC in the currentdirectory, C:\QUIZ, to the standard parallel printer port. The following arevalid answers:

FYI, the TYPE command could be used in the following manner for the same result: TYPE TEST.DOC | PRNThe TEST.DOC portion of the command may be preceded by C:.

15. View a file one screen at a time

Finally, no warnings against using TYPE! The user is asked to use DOS commandsthat will display the file TEST.DOC in the current directory, C:\QUIZ, on thescreen one screen at a time. The following are valid:

The user is told to type the command that will allow the user to create the fileTEST.BAT in the current directory, C:\QUIZ. This type of command is very useful for creating notes or short batch files. The main drawback to using one of the commands below is that you arew restricted to editing the currentline only, and then only with backspace. The following responses are valid:

All above instances of CON may be replaced by CON: as well. The TEST.BAT portion of the command may be preceded by C:.

17. Call a batch file from within another batch file

The user is asked to type the command that will allow the batch file GO.BAT tobe called by the batch file being created by a COPY CON type command. OnceGO.BAT has completed, it should return control to the calling batch file. Theuser is told to assume that GO.BAT is in a directory in the PATH variable. Theconcept behind this question is that as a default, when running a batch file from within another batch file, control goes to that second batch file and endswhen that batch file ends. Using one of these commands (COMMAND /C in all versions, CALL in 3.3+), the second batch file will execute, and when it is done, the remainder of the orginal batch file will complete. The following are valid:

The user will be asked to type the command that will delete all .DOC files inthe current directory, C:\QUIZ. However, the command should prompt the userbefore performing the deletion. The valid answers are:

DEL *.DOC /P DEL .\*.DOC /P DEL ..\QUIZ\*.DOC /P DEL \QUIZ\*.DOC /P

The ERASE command may replace the DEL command. The /P MUST be at the end of thecommand. Note that the /P switch is new as of DOS 4.0. The *.DOC portion of the command may be preceded by C:.

19. Make a logical drive out of a directory

The user is asked to make the directory C:\QUIZ into a logical drive named D. The user will run the command from C:\. Computers that have multiple users often use this command, having SUBST'ed drive letters for directories for eachuser's files, like E: for \KAREN and F: for \CHRIS. The user can get a directory listing by typing in his or her drive letter. See your DOS manualfor more example uses and warnings. The following are valid:

SUBST D: \QUIZ SUBST D: QUIZ SUBST D: C:\QUIZ

20. Reset the DOS PATH environment variable

The user is asked to clear the search-path setting. Once one of these commandsare run, DOS will look for programs in your current working directory only.The following are valid:

PATH; PATH ; PATH=

ADVANCED DOS QUIZ REGISTRATION

Registration

ADQ is shareware, and I retain all copyrights to the program. If you use andlike ADQ, I request that you donate $15 to continue to use it. If you do, andalso send a diskette (5 or 3 Double or High density), I will include any newversion of ADQ, as well as any bonus utilities I have written at that time. Please enclose an extra $1 to cover postage, and be sure to enclose youraddress.

If you would like a customized version of ADQ, the cost is $100. This includes one license for the customized product. Please contact me for a quote on time.

Site licenses are available at huge discounts. See the file PRICE.LST fordetails.

REGISTRATION NOW EASIER FOR COMPUSERVE USERS

You may now register ADQ through CompuServe's Shareware Registration Service. To use the service, GO SWREG and register program #24.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR USERS OF DOS5QUIZ AND/OR DOSQUIZ

DOSQuiz, as mentioned in the introduction, is the basis for the DOSQuiz line.DOS5Quiz is a DOSQuiz specially designed to test your DOS 5.0 knowledge. If you wish to become part of the DOS Quiz family by registering any combination of the DOS Quiz programs, you will be getting some great training/testing tools at a great price. Any two DOS Quiz programs may be registered for $20 (a savings of $10), all three for $25 (a savings of $20). The same diskette and postage charges outlined above apply. See the enclosed file PRICE.LST for and invoice and other ordering info. The latest versions of all DOS Quiz products can be downloaded from the IBMAPP forum on CompuServe.

Steve Mount RR 1 Box 320 Starksboro, VT 05487-9702

Contact me on CompuServe.....: 73720,3404

Contact me on America On-Line: Mountain

Call for ordering/support....: (802) 453-5273

I have fax capability at the above number for orders, but you must call meto have my fax set up before faxing (it is a card and shares the line withmy answering machine).

THE ADQ PROGRAM AND THIS MANUAL ARE COPYRIGHTED DOCUMENTS. THE OWNER OF THECOPYRIGHT GIVES OTHERS PERMISSION TO DISTRIBUTE UNALTERED COPIES OF THE PROGRAMAND DOCUMENTATION TO OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT IN THEPUBLIC DOMAIN. IF YOU USE ADQ, PLEASE PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE. IT WILL ENSURECONTINUED GROWTH OF THE PROGRAM FOR ALL USERS.